Online Education Makes the Grade for K-12 Students

The use of the Internet to study online for university credit has gained a widespread acceptance in the U.S. and elsewhere. Not surprisingly, that success has encouraged educators to find ways to offer education programs online for students in K-12 schools as well.

Online Education for Kids Has Foothold in PA

Pennsylvania is currently the home to 12 cyberschools for young students, and more than 13,000 are enrolled in these programs. There's been such enthusiasm for online grade school education in this area that cyberschool growth is currently beating out public school expansion tenfold. In just six years, the Pennsylvania Cyber Charter School increased its enrollments from 17 to 1,100.

Education Curriculum Online

Online grade schools have obviously taken a page out of the university playbook by providing in-depth subjects and curricula to gain this popularity. For instance, the Pennsylvania Virtual Charter School features more than 700 lessons per grade level (K-9) and has courses in major subjects such as:

• Language Arts/English
• Math
• Science
• History
• Art
• Music
• Physical Education

A responsible adult is designated to help guide each student through lessons and work with them for physical education sections, so the system is not without personal interaction. Plus, this online school even offers special education for students who need it.

Peaceful Coexistence: Online and Campus Degree Programs Set the Example

The growth of online K-12 schools has created some friction with traditional schools (largely over state funding distribution), but it seems likely that both formats will find a way to coexist, much as the higher education institutions have done. As with an online university, students in virtual grade schools can learn at their own pace, all the way through high school. Perhaps this growing comfort level in online learning will drive more students to jump into an online university degree program.

Undoubtedly, other states will follow Pennsylvania's lead to varying degrees, and many online programs are already available for students to earn their high school diplomas. With the Internet growing so much, online schooling has become a possibility for any level of education.

Sources

• "The Cost of Online Education," OxfordTribune.com
• The Pennsylvania Cyber Charter School
• Pennsylvania Virtual Charter School

About the Author
James Tolles is a freelance writer and holds two B.A. degrees, one in Creative Writing and the other in History.